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Report  of  the  S 
Conf  Pam  #472 

D=nDnDfl5  + 


r^EFO  RT 


OF    THE 


SECRETAKY  OF  WAR 


Confederate  States  of  America,  ^ 

War    Dei'art.^ient,  > 

Richmond,  January  3,  1863.  ) 

His  Excollencfy  Jeffekson  Davis, 

President  of  the  Confederute  States  of  America  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  to  you  the  following  report  of  tho 
action  and  condition  of  this  Department : 

After  the  toils  privations  and  many  battles  of  the  past  year,  it  is 
gratifying  to  be  able  to  present  the  army  as  fully  equal,  if  not  su- 
perior, in  all  the  elements  of  strength  to  what  it  has  been  at  any- 
previous  period  of  the  war.  Its  numbers,  though  still  seriously  inade- 
quate to  fill  fully  its  organizations,  yet  afford  a  nSarer  approximation 
than  heretofore  to  that  result.  When,  in  addition,  it  is  considered 
that  a  large  proportion  of  these  consists,  not  of  new  recruits,  but  of 
soldiers  inured  to  the  exposures  of  service  and  made  veterans  by  the 
ordeal  of  constant  danger,  its  superior  endurance  and  stability  must 
readily  be  acknowledged.  It  is  not  deemed  requisite  to  state  its  pre- 
cise aggregate,  nor  to  detail  the  exact  proportions  of  its  respective 
branches  of  service.  It  may  be  suflicient  to  say  generally,  in  respect 
to  the  latter,  thai  it  is  believed  they  exist  in  such  respective  propor- 
tion as  approved  military  judgment  considers  most  promotive  of 
efliciency  and  co-operation. 

The  b,rmy,  thus  constituted,  could  it  be  recruited  and  maintained  to 
its  full  com{)leinent,  would,  in  all  probability,  be  the  largest  in  pro- 
portion to  population  ever  maintained  in  actual  service  by  any  nation, 
and  would  attain  the  maxin. um  which  the  production  and  resources  of 
even  the  wide  expanse  and  fertile  regions  of  the  Confederacy  would, 
without  oppressive  exactions  on  the  people,  render  judicious  to  sus- 
tain. Nor,  when  it  is  recollected  how,  with  numbers  much  short  of 
this  standard  of  completion,  it  has,  in  the  past,  generally  wrested 
victory  from  the  far  superior  forces  of  the  enemy,  and  repelled  the 
horde  of  invaders  on  which,  with  the  presumptuous  insolence  of  anti- 


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cipated  success,  our  foe  hare  relied  to  overwhelm  us,  can  it  be  doubted 
that  such  an  army  would  be  fully  adequate  to  all  future  needs  and 
exigencies,  and  suificicnt  to  assure  final  peace  and  independence. 

To  secure  the  completion  of  its  numbers,  reliance  must  be  placed 
on  the  measures  of  legislation  known  popularly  as  the  Acts  of  Con- 
scription, approved,  the  one  on  the  16th  of  April,  18G2,  and  the  other 
on  the  27t!i  of  September,  1862. 

By  the  first  of  the«e  acts,  all  the  white  male  citizens  of  the  Con- 
federacy capable  of  bearing  arms,  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and 
thirty-five  years,  Avith  a  few  guarded  exceptions,  were  constituted 
soldiers  of  the  Provisional  army,  and  devoted  first  to  filling  up  the 
ranks  of  the  old  organizations.  This  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
ordeals  to  which  the  patriotism  and  self  devotion  of  any  people  was 
ever  subjected.  It  was  demanded  by  the  imperious  necessity  of  the 
crisis.  Without  decadence  of  the  real  valor  of  our  people,  or  their 
invincible  determination  to  achieve  their  independence,  the  first  flush 
of  enthusiasm,  and  the  rush  of  volunteers  fired  by  threatened  inva- 
sion, had  comparatively  ceased. »  Not  unnaturally,  under  experience 
of  the  diseases,  privations  and  hardships  of  the  soldier's  life,  and  the 
influence  of  delusive  hopes  of  a  speedy  peace  inspired  by  early  victo- 
^ries,  the  spirit  of  volunteering  had  died  out.  ^Vhile-,  however,  the 
ardor  of  the  individual  did  not  suffice  for  the  profl^er  of  self-devotion, 
'the  sentiments  and  convictions  of  the  mass  recognized  as  the  most 
sacred  obligation  the  stern  duty  of  defending,  if  needs  bo,  with  their 
entire  numbers,  their  imperilled  liberty,  fortune  and  honor.  They 
were  engaged  in  a  righteous  war  for  all  men  hold  dear.  Foes,  aa 
malignant  in  intent,  as  unscrupulous  in  means,  with  numbers  unex- 
ampled in  modern  war,  aided  by  patient  training,  complete  organiza- 
tion, and  all  the  appliances  of  military  science,  were  pressing  on  for 
th^ir  subjugation  or  extermination.  The  contrast  presented  at  the 
game  time  by  our  banded  forces  was  not  less  striking  than  discourag- 
ing. The  periods  of  enlistment  of  more  than  two-thirds  of  our 
eoldiers  wore  very  near  their  termination,  and  it  was  manifest  that, 
notwithstanding  the  ulterior  purpose  of  the  great  majority,  at  some 
future  time  to  re-enlist  in  the  ranks  of  the  armed  defenders  of  their 
country,  their"  resolution  was  not  sufficient. to  resist  the  prospects 
cherished  for  months,  amid  the  suff'erings  and  monotojiy  of  the  camps, 
of  returning  to  their  homes  and  there  temporarily  enjoying  their 
habitual  comforts  and  pleasures.  They  had,  too,  for  self  justification 
the  plea  that  they  had  borne  their  part  of  the  burthen  and  peril,  and 
that  it  was  inequitable  that  numbers  equally  interested  and  capable, 
but  only  less  bold  or  more  prudent,  should  enjoy  all  the  benefits 
without  sharing  in  their  trials  and  dangers.  Our  army  was  in  incipient 
disorganization,  and  on  the  eve  of  dissolution.  The  natural  conse- 
quences ensued  in  a  series  of  grave  disasters.  Reverse  succeeded 
reverse.  In  the  east,  Roanoke  Island,  the  key  to  the  inland  waters 
of  North  Carolina,  was  captured.  We  had  to  fall  back  from  Manassas, 
abandon  our  defences  at  Yorktown,  and  yield  Norfolk,  with  all  the 
advantages  of  its  contiguous  navy  yard  and  dock.  In  the  west, 
Forts  Henry  and  Donelson   fell,  with  the  loss,  at  the  latter,  of  the 


3 


gallant  force  wLo  liad  victoriously  repelled,  till  exhaustion  disabled 
them,  to  meet  overwhelming  numbers.  All  defences  on  the  Upper 
Mississippi  had  to  be  yielded  or  abandoned,  and  Nashville,  the  capital, 
and  Memphis,  the  leading  city  of  Tennessee,  became  the  unresistin-g 
prey  of  the  victors.  Finally,  as  the  crowning  stroke  of  adverse  for- 
tune. New  Orleans,  the  commercial  emporium  of  the  South,  with  the 
forts  that  guarded  the  outlet  of  the  great  artery  of  trade  in  the  west, 
after  resistance  so  feeble  as  to  arouse  not  less  of  shame  than  indigna- 
tion, passed  into  the  occupancy  of  our  foes.  It  was  the  darkest  hour 
of  our  struggle,  and  with  a  people  of  less  heroic  resolve  and  invinci- 
ble spirit,  waging  war  against  hosts  avowing  such  malignant  intents, 
it  might  well  have  caused  discouragement  and  dismay.  J3ut,  to  their 
honor  be  it  said,  it  only  roused  a  more  indomitable  will,  and  nerved 
to  sterner  struggles.  A  supreme  effort  of  self-devotion  and  courage 
■was  recognized  as  necessary.  The  bill  of  conscription  was  passcil  and 
bravely  accepted.  Its  first  effect  was  to  retain  in  the  array  the  soldiers 
"whose  terms  of  enlistment  were  just  expiring.  How  great  the  sacrifice 
involved  in  the  renewal  of  all  their  privations  and  dangers,  and  the 
renunciation  of  their  anticipated  release  and  enjoyments,  may  be 
better  conceived  than  portrayed.  Yet,  was  there  scarce  a  murmur  of 
disappointment  and  disaffection,  and  not  an  instance,  as  far  as  known, 
of  resistance  or  revolt.  Scarce  less  meritorious  was  the  action  of  the 
great  body  of  the  people,  who,  with  full  realization  of  all  to  be  en- 
countered, yielded  themselves  or  their  dearest  kindred  to  the  call  of 
their  country's  need.  The  results  worthily  rewarded  such  sacrifices. 
The  army  was  speedily  reorganized  and  recruited,  and  with  sterner 
sense  of  its  task,  and  renewed  hope,  it  prepared  to  meet  the  exultart 
foe. 

By  the  rapid  concentration  of  the  armies  in  the  west.  General  A, 
Sidney  Johnston  was  enabled,  with  some  approximation  to  equality  ol 
force,  to  i?!frike  a  decisive  blow,  and  to  win  the  brilliant  victory  of 
Shiloh,  where  the  enemy  were  only  saved  from  utter  destruction  by 
the  hasty  arrival  of  reinforcements  too  numerous  to  be  more  than  suc- 
•cessfully  repelled. 

In  the  east,  the  happy  boldness  of  Gen.  Magruder  at  Yorktown,  stayed 
at  a  critical  time  the  advance  of  the  grand  Federal  army,  destined  for 
the  capture  of  our  capital,  until  our  forces,  rescued  by  the  consum- 
mate strategy  of  General  J.  E.  Johnson,  from  the  pressure  of  envel- 
oping armies,  could  arrive  to  the  rescue.  Signal  checks,  given  in 
partial  battles  at  Williamsburg  and  elsewhere,  dismayed  and  baffled 
the  Federal  army  in  its  advance,  until  General  Johnson  had  recurely 
withdrawn  his  forces  to  his  chosen  lines  of  defence.  Meanwhile,  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  a  series  of  rapid  movements  and  bold  attacks,  in  which 
•strategy  equalled  valor,  with  far  inferior  numbers,  defeated  successively 
four  Generals,  with  as  many  armies,  swept  the  Valley  of  Virginia' 
of  hostile  forces,  made  the  Federal  authorities  tremble  in  their  capital, 
and  frustrated  the  combinations  by  which  the  enemy  had  purposed  to 
aid  General  McClollan  and  environ  Richmond  by  large  converging 
armies.  During  these  operations,  the  grand  army  of  McClellan,  in- 
veigled by  the  skill  of  General  J.  E.  Johnson  to  settle  down  on  the 


swamps  of  the  Chickahominy  to  the  prudent  occupatioa  of  diggin'g' 
trenches  and  earthworks,  was,  on  tlve  first  favorable  opportunity,  stricken* 
xrith  marked  success  in  the  severe  engagement  of  the  Seven  Pines. 
Unfortunately,  before  his  guidance  had  consummated  victory.  General 
Johnson  was  woun  led  and  disabled.  Our  army  was  then  transferred 
to  that  consummate  commander,  General  R.  E.  Lee.  Soon  thereafter, 
summoning  to  his  aid  General  Jackson,  the  prestige  of  whose  name 
and  recent  exploits  sufficed  for  the  security  of  the  Valley,  he,  in  pur- 
suance cf  a  plan,  as  admirably  conceived  as  on  his  part  boldly  execu- 
ted, assailed  McClellan  in  flank  and  rear,  and  by  a  series  of  bloody 
victories,  drove  from  their  labored  defences  his  grand  army.  Shattered 
and  dismayed,  it  cowered  for  protection  under  cover  of  its  gunboats^ 
there  to  swelter  and  waste  beneath  the  oppressive  sun  and  pestilent 
malaria  of  a  shadeless  plain  on  the  banks  of  the  lower  James.  Even- 
that  measure  of  good  fortune  was  due  solely  to  those  accidental  miscar- 
riages in  co:nbinations  which  in  war  often  mar  the  wisest  arrange- 
ments. The  execution  of  General  Lee's  plan,  with  vigor  equal  to  its 
conception,  must  inevitably  have  eventuated  in  the  capture  of  the- 
■ffhole  demoralized  army  of  the  enemy. 

While  these  triumphs  were  being  won,  another  large  army  of  the 
enemy  was  advancing  through  Piedmont  Virginia,  towards  its  central 
lines  of  railroad  communication,  under  the  command  of  General  Pope. 
He  had  disgraced  the  character  of  an  officer  by  braggart  boasts,  and' 
outraged  humanity  and  civilization,  by  stimulating  and  sanctioning: 
desolating  ravages  and  vindictive  cruelties  by  his  unscrupulous  troops. 
General  Jackson,  dispatched  with  a  moderate  force  to  stay  his  pro- 
gress, administered  a  speedy  rebuke  to  his  arrogant  vaunts,  and  gave- 
an  earnest  of  coming  chastisement  by  defeating,  in  the  sharp  engage- 
ment of  Cedar  Run,  his  advanced  division  under  General  Banks. 

Soon  after.  General  Lee,  despising  the  shrunken  proportions  and 
quelled  spirit  of  the  grand  army  in  its  unenviable  asylum,  proceeded, 
with  the  larger  proportion  of  his  forces,  to  unite  with  Jackson  an(J 
confront  the  then  collected  and  imposing  army  of  Pope.  By  a 
succession  of  movements,  too  masterly  tO'  be  comprehended,  and  too^ 
rapidly  executed  to  be  withstood  by  Pope,  he  broke  up  his  communi- 
cations, intercepted  his  supplies,  and  by  throwing  forces  in  his  rear, 
drove  him  to  rapid  flight,  chased  him  from  the  Rapidan  to  Bull  Run, 
and  at  last  forced  him,  but  not  until  sustained  by  large  reinforcements- 
from  Washington,  to  a  decisive  battle  on  the  already  memorable  field 
of  Manassas.  There  a  second  victory,  scarce  less  decisive  than  the 
first,  attested  the  continuing  superiority  of  our  troops,  and  the  un- 
changed favor  of  the  God  of  Battles.  The  enemy  fled  to  refuge 
under  their  old  defences  at  Arlington,  and  again  spread  dread  and 
confusion  in  their  quaking  capital.  Instead  of  wasting  streng;h  and 
resources  by  cither  assailing  the  strongholds  of  the  enemy  or  tarry- 
ing in  the  country  wasted  by  the  repeated  ravages  of  war.  General' 
Lee,  with  boldness  and  dexterity,  passed  his  army  rapidly  into  Mary- 
land. *  There,  with  part  of  his  forces,  he  penetrated  to  the  centre  of 
the  State,  collecting  large  stores  of  much  needed  supplies,  and  by 
stirring  appeals,  rousing  the  people  of  that  oppressed  State  to  atrike- 


for  their  own  deliverance.  With  anotlier  potion,  the  rapid  Jacksoa 
moved  to  the  capture  of  IIarper'3  Ferry,  with  its  hostile  force  di 
11,000  men  and  great  stores  of  munitions  and  supplies.  This  waa 
crowned  with  perfect  success,  and  must  be  recognized  as  among  the 
mo>t  brilliant  achievaments  of  the  war. 

Under  the  shock  of  our  victories,  in  the  Valley  and  around  Richmond, 
And  of  the  successes  of  our  arms  in  the  west,  the  Federal  executive,  stiU 
tenacious  of  the  hope  to  crush  us  by  surj)assing  numbers  and  resources^ 
had  ordered  a  draft  of  six  hundred  thousand  more  men  to  be  at  onoe 
furnished  and  hurried  to  the  support  of  his  still  superior  but  disheart- 
•ened  armies.  From  the  numbers  of  this  call  may  be  inferred,  botb 
the  extent  of  the  panic  and  the  losses  of  the  enemy,  from  our  succeft- 
fiive  victories.  At  the  commencement  of  the  campaign  they  had  based 
iheir  boasts  ajid  their  hopes  on  having  seven  hundred  thousand  mea 
in  arms  for  our  overthrow,  and  before  that  campaign  was  lialf  com- 
pleted, their  fears  called  for  nearly  a  duplication  ef  their  original 
numbers.  While  the  events  last  described  were  occurring,  rapid  anl 
great  additions  under  this  call  had  been  made  to  the  Federal  armies, 
and  not  merely  of  untrained  levies,  since  the  judicious  disposition  of 
them  in  garrisons  and  the  remoter  and  less  exposed  theatres  of  actioo, 
had  i)laced  at  disposition  largo  numbers  of  their  best  troops,  whoss 
spirits  hail  not  been  broken  by  defeats.  Ey  these  means  Gen. 
!McClellan,  who  had  been  summoned  with  his  shattered  remnant  of  the 
^rand  army  to  the  defence  of  the  capital,  was  enabled  at  the  head  of 
an  immense  army,  to  issue  forth  to  attack  Gen.  Lee  and  relieve  Ilar- 
j)er's  Ferry.  The  movement,  though  more  prompt  than  was  antici- 
pated, was  too  late  for  the  latter  purpose,  as  Harper's  Ferry  had  already 
3'ielded,  yet  it  brought  him  in  the  fiice  of  our  forces  before  they  had 
been  concentrated  from  that  and  their  other  operations  in  Mirylaud. 
The  first  shock  of  his  whole  force  was  thus  cast  on  one  of  the  columns 
of  Gen.  Lee's  ai'my,  guarding  his  rear  at^Boonsboro'.  and  though  most 
bravely  sustained  and  even  repelled  by  the  gallant  Gen.  D.  H.  Hiil, 
yet  his  uecesary  retirement  to  the  point  of  combination  selected  by* 
Gen.  Lee,  gave  to  the  enemy  the  appearance  of  a  first  success,  and  was 
Unscrupulously  trumpeted  as  a  great  victory,  to. animate  the  hopes  anfl 
courage  of  the  Federal  army.  Thus  reinspirited,  Avith  treble  odds  of 
aumbers  and  artillery,  they  ventured  an  attack  on  Gen.  Lee  in  thfs 
.position  near  Sharpsburg,  where  he  had  collected  the  larger  porticH 
of  the  forces  remaining  to  him  after  so  many  arduous  marches  and 
glorious  victories.  The  battle,  protracted  from  morn  to  night,  wm 
stubborn  and  Uoody,  but  resulted  in  the  final  repulse  of  the  enemy 
from  all  our  positions.  The'field  remained  in  our  occupancy,  and  th« 
next  morning,  to  the  challenging  fire  of  our  guns,  no  response  was  made, 
And  no  enemy  appeared.  McClellan  had  withdrawn,  as  afterwardi 
appeared,  some  five  miles  in  retreat.  The  victory  was  ours,  but  gained 
over  numbers  already  overwhelming  and  certain  to  be  immediately 
(reinforced,  it  could  not  be  followed  up  and  improved.  Exhausted  by 
the  unwonted  celerity  of  past  movements,  and  By  the  inevitable  losses 
of  hismmy  victories,  and  exposed  to  have  his  communications  aad 
supplies  intercepted  by  his  host  of  foes,   Gen.  Lee  judiciously  with- 


drew  bis  army  ■with  all  its  numbers  and  stores  in  safety  across  the* 
Potomac.  The  enemy  fi%ling  in  this  movement  of  wise  precaution  a 
pretext  for  the  arrogant  claim  of  victory,  followed  to  the  river  bank, 
but  venfured  not  to  assail  their  retiring  conquerors,  much  less  to  cross 
the  river  in  pursuit.  Our  gallant  army,  in  proud  defiance  of  the  hosts 
gathered  on  the  opposite  shore,  rested  and  recruited  on  the  Virginia 
side,  with  the  satisfiction  of  having  well  nigh  destroyed  two  grand 
armie?  of  invaders,  and  severely  staggered  a  third,  more  numerous  tha» 
either.  A  pause  of  martial  inaction  followed  for  some  weeks,  and  may 
be  considered  as  affording  a  termination  in  the  east  to  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  canpaigns  of  history. 

In  the  west,  less  brilliant,  but  still  very  decisive,  successes  attended 
our  arms.  From  the  effects  of  the  victory  of  Shiloh,  and  of  the  re-in- 
vigorated ranks  and  spirits  of  our  forces  under  the  action  of  the  con- 
script law,  our  armies  in  each  department  prepared  to  make  activer 
advances,  and  by  combined  movements  pressing  forward  their  dis- 
couraged and  retreating  foes,  to  repossess  the  country  previously 
occupied  by  them,  and  to  go  forward  to  the  redemption  of  the  State  of 
Kentucky,  and  the  attack  of  one  or  more  of  the  leading  cities  of  the- 
vest.  In  the  prosecution  of  this  plan,  North  Alabama  and  Mississippi 
■were  speedily  cleared  of  the  footsteps  of  the  foe.  AH  of  Tennessee, 
save  the  strongholds  of  Memphis  and  Nashville,  and  the  narrow  districts 
commanded  by  them,  were  retrieved,  and  by  converging  armies,. nearly 
the  ■R'hole  of  Kentucky  was  occupied  and  held.  The  signnl  victory  of 
Richmond  was  wpn,  with  the  capture  and  dispersion  of  nearly  the 
whole  much  superior  forces  of  the  enemy,  by  the  skill  and  valor  of  Gen. 
E.  Kirby  Smith  and  his  brave  command.  While  a  series  of  brilliant 
cavalry  movements  and  successes,  won  by  the  gallant  CoT.  Morgan, 
broke  up  all  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  disaffected  unionists  or  scattered 
JFederal  forces  to  rally  and  combine,  and  afforded  at  once^  pro'eotiott 
and  encouragement  to  rise,  to  the  loyal  citizens  of  the  Gtate.  These- 
movements  threatened  the  safety,  and  excited  the  greatest  consternatiott 
of  the  cities  of  Cincinnati  and  Louisville. 

Meanwhile,  Gen.  Braxton  Bragg,  Avith  a  well  appointed  arniy, 
trained  and  disciplined  under  his  efficient  organization,  moved  boldly 
forward  through  Tennessee  and  Kentucky.  By  doing  this  he  so- 
flanked  and  endangered  the  rear  of  Gen.  Bucll,  in  command  of 
the  leading  army  of  the  enemy  in  the  west,  as  to  compel  him  to  rapid' 
retreat,  for  refuge  and  reinforcements,  on  the  Ohio  at  Louisville,  or 
elsewhere.  Had  Gen.  Buell,  as  might  naturally  have  been  expected 
■from  his  numbers,  been  more  bold  to  encounter  his  enemy,  or  less 
rapid  in  his  flight.  Gen.  Bragg  would  probably  hate  accomplished, 
after  sweeping  all  foes  from  before  him  ift  Middle  Kentucky,  the  great 
object  of  overthrowing  Buelfs  army  and  capturing  Louisville  Unfor- 
tunately, Buell  effected  evasion  of  battle,  and  escaped  safeTy  to  that 
city,  which,  under  the  occupancy  of  his  army,  became  too  strong  for 
assault.  Sheltered  in  Louisville,  Buell  was  enabled  to  receive  and  or 
ganize  the  very  large  reinforcements  which  the  draft  of  the  Federal 
Government,  and  the  dread  of  invasion  in  the  populous  States  of  the- 
Northwest,  caused  to  be  forwarded  with  extraordinary  dispatch.     Hi» 


forces,  before  superior,  became  vastly  larger  than  all  our  commands  in  * 
Kentucky,  ami  he  began  by  various  movements  to  threaten  our  con- 
nections and  communications  with  the  more  Southern  States. — 
About  the  same  time,  the  diversicns  which  were  expected  to  be  made 
by  our  forces  still  remaining  on  the  southern  borders  of  West  Ten- 
nessee, towards  Memphis  and  Nashville,  failed  of  anticipated  success. 
One  division  sas-tained  a  check  at  luka  and  was  obliged  ^o  fall  back, 
and  some  time  later  the  whole  command,  in  a  most  daring  an<l  deter- 
mined attack  on  the  entrenched  positions  of  the  enemy  at  Corinth, 
were  defeated  with  serious  loss  and  driven  to  a  rapid  retreat. 

Before  these  events  had  fully  occurred,  General  Bragg  ha<l  con- 
cluded that  prudence  required  the  present  withdrawal  of  our  armies 
from  Kentucky,  and  the  removal  into  security  of  the  large,  and  under 
our  circumstance?,  most  valuable  supplies  of  every  kind  Avhich  had 
been  collected  during  the  occupancy  of  that  abundant  and  unexhausted 
country.  His  arrangements  were  being  made  with  due  care  and  de- 
liberation for  these  ends,  and  portions  of  his  forces,  preceded  by  im- 
mense trains,  were  alrea'Jy  moving  Southward,  when  General  Buell, 
under  the  encouragement  of  his  great  numbers,  at  last  ventured  attack 
on  one  of  his  divisions.  The  result  was,  when  comparative  torces 
are  considn-ed,  the  brilliant  victory  to  us  of  Perry ville.  Its  results 
were  seen  in  the  subsequent  prudent  avoidance  of  all  interruption  or 
disturbance  by  the  enemy  to  the  quietly  retreating  columns  of  our 
armies  Avith  their  gathered  stores,  who  resumed  commanding  positions 
of  their  selection  in  the  State  of  Tennessee.  Thus,  in  Kentucky,  as 
in  Virginia,  our  armies,  not  conquered  or  repelled,  but  diminished  by 
their  own  successes,  were,  from  mere  paucity  of  numbers,  constrained 
to  retire  to  avoid  environment  by  overwhelming  forces,  but  under  the 
protecting  prestige  of  victory,  were  prudently  respected  and  unas- 
sailed  by  their  enemies. 

Of  the  various  operations  of  our  forces  on  more  limited  theatres,  it 
is  impracticable,  within  reasonable  limits,  to  give  a  succinct  account. 
It  is  sufficient  to  say,  generally,  that  from  the  reorganization  of  our 
army,  and  the  turn  in  the  tide  of  fortune,  that  successes  have  been 
numerous  and  reverses  very  few,  and  that,  with  scarce  an  exception, 
in  small  actions  as  in  great  engagement',  the  superior  skill  of  our 
officers  and  valor  of  our  soldiers  have  been  signally  vindicated. 

More  special  allusion,  however,  is  due  to  the  memorable  repulses  of 
the  enemy  with  their  formidable  gunboats  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  near 
Richmond,  and  at  Vicksburg.  At  each  were  illustrated  not  more  sig- 
nally the  f  )rtitude  and  valor  of  the  armed  defenders,  than  the  heroic 
jesolve  and  self-devotion  of  the  citizens,  who  preferred  for  their  fair 
cities'  destruction  to  subjugation.  The  examples  were  pregnant  with 
monition  and  encouragement.  The  gunboats  lost  their  prestige  of 
terror.  Cities  ceased  to  be  abandoned  or  surrendered  on  the  approach 
of  a  foe,  and  all  were  taught  how  freemen,  above  fear  and  ready  for 
all  sacrifice,  may  proudly  defy  the  most  potent  agencies  of  modern 
warfare. 

The  foregoing  detail  has  been  indulged  in  from  a  double  purpose. 
First,    to   render   a  tribute  of  justice  to  our  armies,  whose  grand 


achievements,  being  then  in  process  of  accomplishment,  mj  predeces- 
Bor,  from  considerations  of  prud:nce,  abstained  in  his  last  report  from 
commemorating  ;  and  secondly,  and  more  especially,  to  demonstrate 
the  imperious  necessity  that  demanded  the  first  enactment  of  con- 
Bcription,  and  the  glorious  effects  that' at  once  vindicated  tlie  ^vi?dora 
of  its  adoption,  and  repaid  the  sacrifices  of  our  soldiers  and  people  in 
accepting  it.  It  is  hardly  too  much  to  say,  that  it  wrought  our  salva- 
tion from  destruction  or  infamous  thraldom.  Could  it  indeed  have 
been  somewhat  sooner  adopted,  or  more  speedily  and  thoroughly  exe- 
cuted, it  may  well  be  doubted  whether  the  first  act  alone  miglu  not 
have  sulMced  to  have  extorted  from  our  obdurate  foes,  in  their  own  cap- 
ital, or  on  their  own  conquered  soil,  permanent  peace  and  indepen- 
dence. At  the  culminating  point  of  our  late  successful  advances, 
could  fifty  thousand  more  troops  of  the  Confederacy  have  h.een  ailded 
to  the  viccorious  armies  of  Generals  Lee  and  Bragg,  the  fall  fruition 
of  our  highest  hopes  would  almost  have  been  assured  In  no  spirit 
of  vain  regret  is  the  reflection  indulged,  but  because  of  its  deep  prac- 
'tical  monition  for  the  fuLure.  In  lieu  of  such  happy  consummation, 
our  triumphal  progress  was  arrested  and  our  victorious  armies 
compelled  to  retire  before  the  hosts  summoned  to  the  field  by  the 
large  draft  of  the  Federal  Government.  The  same  necessity  is  there- 
fore again  pressing  on  our  people  with  scarce  less  stringent  urgency. 
In  wise  prevision  of  it,  the  second  act  of  conscription,  heretofore  re- 
ferred to,  Avas  judiciously  provided  by  Congress  at  its  last  session, 
giving  TO  your  Excellency  the  power  to  call  into  the  Provisional  Army 
all  subject  to  military  duty  between  the  ages  of  thirty-five  and  forty- 
five,  or  such  part  thereof  as  in  your  judgment  was  necessary  to  the 
public  defence.  Under  this  act,  you  have  called. into  service,  for  the 
present,  only  those  between  the  ages  of  thirty-five  and  forty,  who  are 
Bubject  to  military  service,  and  not  exempted  by  an  act  passed  soon 
after,  known  as  the  Exemption  Act,  exempting  certain  classes  of  per- 
sons, and  such  others  as  the  President  shall  be  satisfied  on  account  of 
justice,  equity  or  necessity  ought  to  be  exempted.  The  call,  as  well 
as  the  first  Act  of  Conscription,  are  now  being  actively  executed  by 
the  department.  A  sub-bureau,  attached  to  the  Adjutant  General's 
Department,  has  been  organized,  charged  with  this  subject  exclusively. 
In  every  State  one  or  more  Camps  of  Instruction  for  the  reception 
and  training  of  conscripts,  has  been  or  is  being  cstiblished  in  judici- 
ously selected  locations.  To  each  State  an  officer,  styled  a  Com- 
mandant of  Conscripts,  is  appointed,  charged  with  the  supervision  of 
the  enrolment  and  instruction  of  conscripts,  anl  he  r  ;commends  a 
6urg3oa,  a  quartermaster,  a  cominiss  iry  and  the  drilhnasters  requisite. 
Pursuant  to  another  Act  of  Congress,  approved  October  1  I,  1862, 
in  e;ich  city,  county,  parish,  or  district  in  the  several  States,  a  place 
of  rendezvous  for  persons  enrolled  is  established,  where  they  arc  ex- 
amined by  surgeons,  and  in  each  Congressional  District  a  board  of 
three  surgeons  is  appointed  to  make  the  examinations  aforesaid.  It 
has  not  been  found  practicable  to  spare  from  the  service  of  the  armies 
and  hospitals  a  sufficient  number  of  Confederate  Surg  'ons  to  consti- 
•tute  these,  but  at  least  one  in  each  district  will  be  associated  with  local 


surgeons  of  repute  for  the  duty,  and  the  effort  -will  be  made  to  prevent, 
by  exchanges  with  other  districts,  surgeons  of  any  particular  county 
from  officiating  on  the  conscripts  therefrom.  In  at  least  each  county 
or  city  an  enrolling  officer  is  expected  to  act,  and  he  is  instructed  to 
enrol  all  not  of  the  exempted  classes,  between  the  specified  ages  of 
eighteen  and  forty,  so  that  those  who  have  evaded  o'r  been  neglected 
in  former  enrolments,  and  the  number  startlingly  large  of  soldiers 
who,  on  one  pretence  or  another,  are  avoiding  service,  as  well  as 
thos^fcmbraccd  by  your  late  call,  may  be  subjected  to  duty. 

In  the  enforcement |Df  these  laws  of  conscription,  the  Department 
is  constrained  to  be  inflexible,  and  even  appear  harsh.  The  sacrifices 
exacted  for  service  are  painfully  realized,  but  they  are  felt  to  be  im- 
peratively demnndcd  for  the  public  safety.  The  exemptions,  though 
far  more  liberal  in  the  last  than  the  former  act,  still  affect  compara- 
tively few,  and  those  of  certain  limited  classes,  while  the  exempting 
power  vested  in  your  discretion  seems  to  contemplate  only  individual 
cases  of  persons  who  ought  to  be  exonerated  "  on  account  of  justice, 
equity  or  necessity ."  In  considering  the  character  of  the  classes  ex- 
empted, it  is  evident  that  Congress  contemplated  the  enumeration  of 
all  of  the  prescribed  ages,  whose  offices  or  functions  seemed  more 
essential  to  the  public  Aveal  at  home  than  in  the  service.  The  prin- 
ciple of  the  bill  is,  therefore,  that  the  whole  necessary  operations  of 
society  and  business  can  and  must  be  done  h}  the  exempts,  and  those 
above  and  below  the  prescribed  ages,  while  all  other  white  males, 
capable  of  bearing  arms,  shall  be  in  the  armies  of  the  Confederacy, 
for  tlie  sacred  duty  of  public  defenf  e. 

This  principle  the  Department  rigidly  applies,  with  but  few  in- 
considerable exceptions  of  the  clearest  equity  or  necessity.  An  im- 
pression has  strangely  prevailed,  that  the  exemptions  prescribed 
by  the  act  availed,  as  well  to  di^harge  from  the  army,  as  to  exon- 
erate from  the  call  of  conscription.  For  this  no  foundation  can  be 
found  in  the  law,  while  the  earnest  aim  clearly  expressed  in  the  first 
act  to  retain  the  army  as  absolutely  essential,  as  well  as  the  general 
phraseology  of  the  law,  excludes  such  construction.  The  whole  scope 
and  operation  of  the  second  act  apply  exclusively  to  those  to  be  sub- 
jected to  the  expcctcil  call  of  the  President,  and  the  act  of  exemption, 
passed  to  limit  and  define  it,  can,  of  course,  have  no  wider  stretch. 
The  very  term  exemption  implies  freedom  fiora  a  call  to  be  made,  not 
discharge  from  existing  service.  It  is  well,  too,  in  every  view,  that 
such  is  the  only  reasonable  construction  of  the  act,  for  a  more  mis- 
chievous mode  could  hardly  have  been  devised  to  weaken  and  dissatisfy 
the  army,  than  to  have  made  the  grounds  of  exemption  causes  of  dis- 
charge. Apart  from  the  inevitable  loss  in  numbers  to  the  army,  it 
could  not  be  expected  that  the  soldiers  not  embraced  seeing  comrades . 
equally  capable  of  service  discharged  on  such  grounds,  as,  for  in- 
stance, that  they  had  plantations  with  twenty  slaves  without  other 
male  adult  on  them,  or  because  of  their  addiction  to  special  mechanical, 
mining  or  manufacturing  pursuits,  would  not  feel  the  gravest  discon- 
tent and  indignation.  Demoralization,  if  not  more  disastrous  effects, 
must  inevitably  have  ensued. 


10 

There  are  certain  classes  of  officers  and  employees,  not  exactly 
engaged  in  State  or  Confederate  service,  yet  so  important  in  their 
public  ministry,  such  as  the  officers  and  police  of  cities,  firemen, 
superintendents  of  water  or  gas  works,  and  the  like,  and  others  agaia 
essential  to  corporations  private  in  interest,  but  highly  important  to 
the  transaction  of  general  business,  or  to  works  of  public  benevolence, 
such  as  the  officers  and  clerks  of  express  companies,  of  leading  banks, 
evangelical  societies  and  similar  institutions,  to  Avhom  it  might  be 
advisable  to  extend  the  privilege  of  exemption.  The  classes  of  ti^es- 
men  or  mechanics  cxonorated  in  deference  to  the  peculiar  ne^  of 
society,  might  also  be  enlarged. 

There  are,  too,  in  the  Confederacy  districts  of  not  very  fertile 
country,  where  the  citizens  are  generally  in  moderate  circumstances, 
and  have  few  or  no  slaves.  The  draft  on  them  of  all  the  males  be- 
tween eighteen  and  forty  Avill  probably  remove  their  laboring  classes 
to  such  an  extent  as  to  endanger  scarcity «and  even  destitution  among 
the  remainder.  Some  relaxation  of  the  law,  graduating  the  number 
to  be  conscribed  in  proportion  to  the  deficiency  of  slave  labor  in  any 
county  or  district,  would  be  both  equitable  and  judicious. 

One  of  the  exemptions  of  the  act,  that  which  "  to  secure  the  proper 
police  of  the  country"  exempts  ''one  person  on  each  plantation  of 
twenty  negroes,  on  Avhich  there  is  no  white  male  adult  not  liable  to 
military  dut}^"  has  caused,  in  many  portions  of  the  Confederacy,  dis- 
satisfaction and  complaint.  This  has  been,  in  many  instances,  from 
mere  invidiousness  in  regarding  the  slaves  merely  as  property,  and 
not  as  a  servile  class  to  be  controlled  from  considerations  of  general 
safet3^  In  others  where  the  slaves  are  regarded  only  ^s  helpless 
dependents  to  bo  cared  for  and  directed.  The  claim  has  been  asserted 
that  similar  privilege  of  exemption  should  at  least  be  accorded  to 
those  who  had  many  helpless  children  or  females  dependent  solely  on 
their  care  or  labor.  The  latter  vi^v  would  alone  seem  entitled  to 
consideration. 

It  would  probably  relieve  the  law  from  much  odium,  and  yet  pro- 
mote only  equity  and  the  public  good,  if  where,  as  in  cases  not  unfre- 
quently  presented,  eight  or  ton  helpless  whites  are  dependent  on  one 
male  friend  within  the  prescribed  ages,  exemption  should  be  accorded 
by  law. 

It  will  be  observed,  you  have  not  yet  exhausted  your  power  of  call. 
The  faithful  execution  of  that  mode  it  is  confidently  hoped  will  dispense 
with  the  need  of  further  draft  on  those,  Avho  from  their  age  are  apt  to 
be,  by  their  larger  ties  and  interests,  most  essential  to  society.  Our 
armies  may  thus  be  adequately  recruited  and  maintained  at  the  max- 
imum required  by  their  organizations.     More  need  scarce  be  desired. 

The  organization  of  the  army  has  been  advanced  by  the  appoint- 
ment, under  the  act  of  Congress,  of  seven  Lieutenant  Generxls.  They 
were  all  Major  Generals,  and  selected  for  approved  skill,  conduce  and 
experience.  They  are  all  now  in  active  service,  some  commanding 
seperate  departments,  and  others  heading  army  corps  under  a  General 
in  the  field.  Major  and  Brigadier  Generals  in  requisite  numbers  to 
meet  the  exigencies  of  the  service,  have  been  appointed  and  assigned. 


II 

Tlie  policy  of  organizing  the  brigades  with  ti'oops  and  Generals  from 
the  several  States,  has  been  pursued,  and  as  opportunities  offer,  with- 
out detriment  to  the  service,  will  be  carried  out.  The  greater  satisfac- 
tion of  the  men  from  each  State,  -when  collected  together,  the  generous 
emulation  for  glory  to  their  State,  and  the  fair  apportionment  of  offi- 
cers assured  to  each  State  according  to  its  contribution  of  defenders  to 
the  country,  will,  it  is  hoped,  overbalance  the  inconvenience  of  separat- 
ing regiments  or  compnnies  previously  associated,  and  the  linbiUty  to 
State  jealousies.  The  policy  will  be  persisted  in  to  a  full  trial  of  its 
merits. 

The  military  courts  authorized  at  the  last  session  of  Congress  have 
been  constituted.  In  making  the  appointi^ents,  while  qualifications 
were  first  considered,  preference  among  the  applicants  was,  a»  far  as 
the  range  of  choice  allowed,  given  to  those  Avho  had  been  wounded  or 
disabled  in  service.  These  tribunals  supply  a  need  much  feit  by  our 
commanders  in  the  field.  The  necessity  of  frei]uent  courts-martial 
causes  much  embarrassment  and  muny  delays.  Without  them  now  the 
prompt  administration  of  the  military  law  may  be  secured,  desertion 
and  straggling  checked,  license  of  all  kinds  restrained,  and  tcmperane*, 
discipline  and    subordination  advanced. 

The  various  branches  of  special  service  heretofore  established  have 
proven  judicious  and  worked  generally  well. 

The  battalion  of  sharpshooters  attached  to  each  brigade  has  done 
much  to  restore  our  superiority  as  marksmen,  which  had  begun  to  be 
endangered  by  the  guns  of  long  range  and  constant  practice  therewith, 
of  our  less  skilful  adversaries.  On  many  occasions,  their  efficiency, 
as  well  as  the  valor  of  these  battalions,  has  been  strikingly  exhibited, 
and  they  are  now  regarded  as  almost  a  necessity  to  a  proper  organi- 
zation. 

The  appointments  of  artillery  officers  for  ordnance  service,  and  of 
engineers,  have  as  yet  been  made  only  in  part.  Boards,  however, 
have  been  constituted  for  the  examination. of  candidates,  and  are  re- 
quired to  hold  their  sessions  in  different  parts  of  the  Confederacy,  go 
as  to  afford  similar  facilities  of  access  to  those  at  a  distance  from  the 
capital.  Some  sessions  have  been  held  and  reports  have  been  made 
assigning  the  order  of  merit  in  which  the  successful  candidates  have 
passed.  It  is  the  purpose  of  the  department,  Avhen  these  lists  have 
been  completed,  to  make  the  appointments  from  them,  and  as  justice 
and  implied  faith  seem  to  demand,  to  give  priority  in  commission  accord- 
ing to  the  reported  grades  of  qualification. 

The  engineer  officers  already  appointed  and  acting,  have  proved 
most  efficient  aids,  as  well  in  field  operations-  as  in  local  works  and 
defences.  They  have  had,  hoAv^ver,  no  special  corps  of  men,  but  only 
such  as  when  occasion  required,  were  detailed  for  the  special  service. 
It  may  be  wtdl  doubted  whether  a  company  or  two  in  each  brigade 
should  not  be  specially  devoted  to  engineering  work,  and  be  exclu- 
sively commanded  by  engineer  officers.  Greater  skill  and  effi<jicncy 
could  not  fail  to  be  attained  by  the  men  so  employed,  while  the 
inconveniences  which  often  arise  from  the  delay  in  special  details,  and 
the  occasional  controversies  arising  between  the  officers  in  command 


12 

of  the  detailed  raeu  and  tlie  engineer  officers  guiding  their  operations, 
would  be  avoided.  In  connecti^on  with  such  a  corps,  a  company  of 
pioneers  and  pontoniers  armed  only  with  revolvers  and  sabres,  but 
carrying  some  effective  tool,  as  an  axe,  a  pick  or  a  spade,  might  be 
advantageously  constituted,  under  the  command  of  an  engineer  officer. 
One  detachment  of  them  might  precede  each  brigade  in  its  march, 
smo-thing  the  roads  and  bridging  the  small  streams,  while  another 
should  accompany  the  trains,  prepared  to  remove  impediments,  or 
give  prorjpt  assistance  in  case  of  accidents.  The  celerity  of  army 
movements,  on  which  often  great  results  depend,  would  be  sensibly 
increased  by  such  an  arrangement. 

The.  ofnccrs  for  ordnance  service,  as  far  as  appointments  have  been 
made,  have  rendered  the  distribution  of  munitions  and  the  supply  of 
arms  and  artillery  more  regular  and  complete,  and  have,  at  the  same 
time,  promoted  economy  in  consumption,  care  in  preservation,  and 
greater  efficiency  in  their  use. 

The  signal  corps  has  been  filled  and  organized,  and  is  now  in  effec- 
tive operation.  It  justifies  the  expectations  entertained  of  its  utility, 
and  contributes  materially  to  the  dispatch  of  orders,  the  transmission 
of  intelligence,  and  the  general  safety  of  the  army. 

The  policy  of  organizing  corps  of  Partizan  Rangers  has  not  been 
approved  by  experience.  The  permanency  of  their  engagements  and 
their  consequent  inability  to  disband  and  reassemble  at  call,  precludes 
their  usefulness  as  mere  guerillas,  while  the  comparative  independence 
of  their  military  relations,  and  the  peculiar  reAvards  jilowed  them  for 
captures,  induce  much  license  and  many  irregularities.  They  have  not 
unfrequently  excited  more  odium  and  done  more  damage  with  friends 
than  enemies.  The  men  composing  them  would  be  morj  useful  in  the 
regular  organizations,  and  while  the  department  has  been  reluctant  to 
disband  them,  it  avoids  raising  more,  and  endeavors  to  persuade  and 
promote  the  conversion  of  existing  corps  into  similar  bodies  in  the  line 
of  the  Provisional  Army. 

The  principle  now  applicable  to  nearly  all  the  regimental  and  com- 
pany organizations,  of  promotion  by  seniority,  and  of  election  in  the 
lowest  grade  only,  is  believed  to  have  given  more  satisfaction  than  did 
that  of  general  election.  A  feeling  of  greater  security  and  more  pro- 
fessional pride  is  engendered,  and*stronger  inducements  are  presented 
to  all  subordinate  officers  to  improve  and  prepare  themselves  for 
higher  positions.  Still,  in  an  army  where  a  largo  proportion  of  the 
officers  have  had  no  previous  military  training  or  experience,  due  as- 
surance cannot  be  felt  of  the  competency  of  those  on  whom  promotion 
iw^3%  by  this  rule,  be  cast.  A  proviiion  against  gross  incompetency 
is,  indeed,  made  bj  the  authority  conferred  by  act  of  Congress"  for 
the  convening  of  a  board  to  determine  qualifications,  but  resort  to 
this  remedy  is  naturally  odious,  and  in  prtictice  it  proves  but  little 
efficacious.  It  is  not  to  be  denied,  too,  that  promotion  by  seniority 
alone  represses  ambitious  aspirations,  and  the  spirit  of  enterprise  and 
daring  which  promotion  by  merit  inspires.  Some  recognition  of  this, 
and  desire  to  avoid  its  effects,  have  been  manifested  by  the  enactments 
of  Congress  allowing  promotions  to  be  made  by  the  President  in  cases- 


13 

of  distinguished  skill  and  valor,  but  save  in  the  rare  case  ■where  re- 
commendation of  extraordinary  merit  is  given  by  the  corarainding 
general,  such  appointments  can  only  be  made  to  a  vacancy  in  the  com- 
pany, battalion  or  regiment  to  which  the  party  is  attached.  Besides, 
where  promotion  by  seniority  is  the  almost  invariable  rule,  the  exercise 
of  this  appointing  power  becomes  odious,  is  construed  into  injustice  to 
all  the  inferior  officers  of  the  special  organization,  and  breeds  discontent 
and  dissension.  In  consequence,  it  is  very  rarely  exerciseil.  an  I  the* 
injurious  effects  of  promotion  by  seniority  alone  arc  not  by  this  provi- 
sion effectively  counteracted.  It  is  suggested  that  some  beneficial 
effect  in  inspiriting  to  deeds  of  valor  and  the  display  of  extraordinary 
merit,  would  result  from  confining  election  to  the  lowest  grade,  (the 
starting  point  on  the  road  to  honors)  to  those,  if  any  were  in  the  com- 
pany, trho  had  been  rcconvmendcd  by  their  commanders  for  distin- 
guished skill  and  valor.  This  would  not  deprive  the  company  of  the 
privilege  of  election,  but  would  confine  the  choice  among  the  most 
worthy.  Still  the  higher  and  more  important  grades  would  be  sup- 
plied only  by  seniority,  and,  with  deference,  it  is  recommended,  that 
Bome  mode  be  devised  by  the  wisdom  of  Congress  to  Lave  vacancies  of 
that  class  more  frequently  the  rewards  of  high  deeds  and  superior 
qualifications.  This  is  the  more  necessary  since  the  commissions  of 
officers  in  the  provisional  army  being  dependent  on  the  continuance  of 
their  organizations,  some  of  the  most  valuable  in  the  service  have  been 
thrown  out  by  the  dissolution  or  disbanding  of  their  cr.mpanies  or 
regiments,  when,  often  through  their  own  gallantry,  too  much  reilucod 
for  service.  Under  the  present  system,  however  meritorious  or 
efficient,  there  is  no  place  for  them  in  the  line,  and  they  can  only  be 
replaced  in  the  army  by  conscription  as  privates.  This  is  scarce  les8 
unjust  than  impolitic.  Some  provision  should  be  adopted  by  which 
such  officers  should  retain  their  commissions,  or  the  privilege  of  ap- 
pointment to  vacancies  which  they  are  eminently  fitted  to  fill  should 
be  accorded  to  them.  The  hardships  to  the  officers  in  such  cases, 
together  with  reluctance  to  lose  their  services,  has  sometimes  induced 
generals  in  command,  particularly  in  the  more  distant  departments,  to 
assign  such  officers  temporarily  to  vacancies,  for  which  the  officers 
entitled  by  seniority  were  known  to  be  less  cora|  etent,  or  to  special 
duties.  An  embarrassment  results.  The  officers,  in  some  cases,  after 
long  service,  find  that  they  have  lost  their  commissions  by  the  pre- 
vious disbanding  of  their  commands,  and  can  neither  be  recognized 
nor  receive  their  pay  as  officers.  Some  appropriation  to  meet  such 
cases,  and  provide  cpmpensation  at  least  for  the  period  of  their  actual 
service,  should  be  provided. 

In  this  connection  another  interesting  class  of  cases  deserves  pass- 
ing notice.  It  has  repeatedly  happened  that  officers  who  have  raised 
companies  or  regiments,  or  who  have  been  passed  over  by  a  State 
with  their  commands  to  the  Confederate  service,  after  joining  some  of 
our  armies,  but  before  their  muster  rolls  have  been  duly  returned,  or 
notice  properly  given  to  the  Adjutant  General,  have  been  captured, 
or  had  their  commands  broken  up  and  dispersed  by  the  enemy.  Some, 
in  such  cases,  have  pined  long  in  prison,  others  have  served  in  assigned 


14 

commands  for  months,  and  "when  either  exchanged,  or  led  to  apply  for 
recognition  and  pay  as  officers,  have  found  no  authority  in  the  depart- 
ment to  allow  either.  Several  cases  like  these  of  peculiar  hardship 
occurred  among  the  officers  of  the  Louisiana  State  troops  transferred 
to  the  Confeilerate  service,  who  were  either  captured  or  dispersed  after 
the  fall. of  New  Orleans.  It  is  recommended  that  whenever  their  im- 
prisonitent  or  service  as  officers  can  be  satisfactorily  established, 
payment  to  them  be  authorised  by  law. 

Measures  to  afford  adequate  supplies  of  ordnance,  arms  and  muni- 
tions for  the  army  have  claimed  the  earnest  attention  of  the  depart- 
ment. The  increased  stringency  of  the  blockade  by  the  enemy,  while 
it  has  made  the  importation  of  sufficient  supplies  more  difficult  and 
costl3%  has  at  the  same  time  induced  more  energetic  efforts  to  fi^d  and 
develope  all  internal  resources.  The  results  so  far  are  very  encour- 
aging. Our  present  supplies  are  at  least  as  abundant  as  they  have 
been  at  any  time  past,  and  our  prospects  for  the  future  more  promising. 
Two  establishments,  in  addition  to  the  leading  one  heretofore  existing 
at  this  city,  for  making  ordnance  have  been  founded  in  interior  towns 
under  the  auspices  of  the  department,  one  of  which  is  already  in  suc- 
cessful operation,  and  the  other  will  be  in  a  very  short  time.  Besides 
these,  some  smaller  establishments  have  been  fostered  and  engaged  in 
similar  work.  Thus  the  serious  anxiety  which  resulted  from  depen- 
dence on  a  single  establishment,  liable  to  be  interrupted  by  casualties 
or  the  chances  of  war,  has  been  removed,  and  a  larger  'provision  se- 
cured for  future  supplies.  Of  small  arms,  the  department  can  now 
furnish  stores  more  adequate  to  the  requirements  of  the  arm;y  than  at 
any  preceding  date,  while  of  munitions  it  entertains  now  no  dread  of 
deficiency.  In  these  particulars  also,  by  the  encouragement  and  es- 
tablishment of  manufactures  within  the  Confederacy,  the  department 
is  daily  becoming  less  dependent  on  foreign  supply,  and  it  indulges 
the  hope  that  it  will,  at  no  remote  period,  be  able  to  disponsc  altogether 
with  that  reliance.  In  this  connection,  it  would  be  injustice  not  to  re- 
fer to  the  efficient  aid  which  has  been  rendered  by  the  Nitre  Bureau, 
which  is  charged  with  much  more  general  operations  than  its  name 
would  indicate.  The  most  serious  embarrassment  to  be  apprehended, 
in  reference  to  the  ordnance  supplies,  is  in  the  deficiency  of  iron. 
Before  the  war,  nearly  all  iron  works  within  the  States  of  the 
Confederacy  had  languished  or  decayed,  and  from  the  sense  of  pre- 
cariousness  in  the  future  and  the  scarcity  of  suitable  labor,  it  has 
been  very  difficult  to  establish  them  in  sufficient  numbers  and  on  an 
adequate  scale  to  meet  the  necessities  of  the  war*  It  has  been  ne- 
cessary that  the  department  should  stimulate  enterprise  by  large 
advances  and  liberal  contracts,  and  likewise  contribute  by  details 
to  the  supply  of  labor.  Many  new  furnaces  have  been  es- 
tablished, and  those  in  operation  have  been  enlarged  and  tempted  to 
continue  more  uninterruptedly  in  blast.  If  the  contracts  made  with  the 
department  are  only  fully  carried  out,  it  is  believed  the  supply  will 
prove  adequate,  but  there  are  many  difficulties  in  the  prosecution  of 
the  work  from  the  enhancement  of  all  prices  and  from  the  temptations 
constantly  offered  to  contractors  to  prefer  the  superior  profits  which 


15 

they  can  command  by  supplying  the  general  market.  In  some  in- 
stances the  department  has  had  no  alternative  but  to  resort  to  im- 
pressment to  enforce  the  fulfilment  of  its  contracts  or  to  supply  its 
pressing  necessities. 

Embarrassments  of  the  like  nature  have  affected  the  operations  of 
the  Quartermaster  and  Subsistence  Departments.  For  some  of  the 
leading  articles  required  by  the  former,  reliance  has  necessarily  been 
placed  to  a  considerable  extent  on  foreign  supplies,  since  they  are  not 
adecj^uately  furnished  within  the  Confederate  States.  This  has  been 
specially  the  case  with  woolens  and  leather,  and  under  tlie  losses 
and  interruptions  caused  by  the  blockade,  there  have  been  at  times 
rather  scant  supplies  of  blankets,  shoes  and  some  other  articles  of 
clothing.  Still,  by  using  to  the  utmost  internal  resources,  by  the  es- 
tablishment of  factories  and  the  organization  of  workshops,  and  by 
greater  economy  in  use,  the  army  has  never  been  allowed  seriously  to 
suffer.  Of  late  greater  success  has  attended  importations,  and  be- 
sides, contracts  for  supplies  have  been  made  on  lii)eral  terras  to  so 
large  an  extent  that  security  is  now  felt  of  timely  and  abundant  pro- 
vision. To  attain  a  result  so  indispensable  to  the  comfort  and  preser- 
vation of  our  gallant  armies,  the  department  will  spare  no  exertion  or 
sacrifice. 

For  due  supplies  of  forage  and  subsistence,  reliance  has  been  placed 
on  the  productions  and  resources  of  the  Confederacy  alone,  and  so  far 
they  have  proved  abundant.  They  are,  however,  more  affected  by  the 
peculiar  circumstances  of  the  country.  The  harvests  of  the  past 
season  have  not  generally  proved  propitious,  and  notwithstanding  the 
much  larger  breadth  of  land  devoted  to  the  culture  of  cereals  and 
forage,  the  product  in  many  extensive  districts  of  the  Confederacy  is 
below  the  average  and  in  some  even  threatens  scarcity.  The  cost  and 
want  of  transportation  make  difficult  the  collection,  distribution  and 
equalization  of  such  products.  In  addition,  the  ravages  of  war, 
prosecuted  by  our  malignant  enemies  in  shameful  violation  of  all  civ- 
ilized usage  for  the  ends  of  rapine  or  destruction,  have  desolated  con- 
siderable districts  of  fertile  country.  The  districts  thus  devastated 
have  been,  too,  mainly  those  which  have  heretofore  afforded  the  largest 
supplies  of  meat.  The  rearing  of  animals  for  food  has  been  since  the 
war  very  generally  increased  throughout  the  Confederacy,  and  from 
other  districts  larger  supplies  than  heretofore  may  be  expected.  Still 
the  scarcity  of  grain  and  forage  must  check  considerably  this  increased 
production,  and  render  adequate  supplies  for  the  future  more  doubtful. 
A  yet  graver  cause  renders  the  procurement  of  the  supplies  that  ex- 
ist difficult.  The  redundant  issue  of  treasury  notes,  which  the  needs 
of  the  treasury  has  made  inevitable,  by  inflating  the  currency  far  be- 
yond the  wants  of  the  country  for  a  circulating  medium,  has  caused  a 
great  enhancement  of  all  prices,  and  inspired  a  general  and  inordinate 
spirit  of  speculation.  As  the  cause  of  enhancement  has  been  and  must  be 
continuous,  being  the  necessary  issue  of  treasury  notes,  so  the  increase 
in  prices  has  been,  and  without  check  from  legislation  must  be,  steadily 
progressive.  This  is  so  understood  or  has  been  so  experienced  by 
all  classes,  that  there  is  the  strongest  repugnance  on  the  part  of  all 


16 

having  necessary  supplies  to  sell,  to  part  with  tliera  even  at  the  exag- 
frerateJ  current  rates,  from  the  conviction  that  a  longer  holdicig  will 
assure  still  higher  prices.  This  motive  is  so  influential  and  general, 
that  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  supply  the  necessities  of  tho  govern- 
ment at  fair  prices,  or  by  voluntary  contracts. 

Resort  to  the  power  of  impressment  has  become  an  absolute  neces- 
Bity  for  the  support  of  our  armies.  It  is  a  power  of  great  delicacy, 
liable  to  perversion  and  abuse,  and  should  be  surrounded  by  every 
safeguard  of  equity  consistent  with  its  exercise.  The  sanction  and 
regulation  of  the  power,  by  law,  is  earnestly  commended  to  the  early 
consideration  of  Congress.  By  controlling  the  transportation  on  the 
railroads  on  some  judicious  general  system,  and  the  due  regulation 
and  exercise  of  the  power  of  impressment,  the  evils  referred  to  may, 
in  a  measure,  be  remedied,  and  the  supplies  absolutely  essential  may 
be  commanded.  But  it  is  not  to  be  disguised  that  a  more  complete 
remedy  is  desirable,  and  that  it  can  only  be  found  in  the  regulation  of 
the  currency,  the  cessation  of  inflation,  and  the  consequent  reduc- 
tion of  prices  to  a  more  stable  standing.  This  more  appropriately 
pertains  to  the  province  of  the  Treasury  Department,  by  the  able 
head  of  which  it  vrill  doubtless  be  fully  presented.  As,  however,  the 
War  Department  is  the  great  consumer,  and  most  prejudiced  by  this 
evil,  it  may  be  pardonable  to  say,  that  there  is  but  one  radical  remedy. 
That  is  easy  and  simple.  It  is  by  legislation  to  limit  the  negotiability 
of  the  treasury  notes,  so  that  there  shall  never  be  outstanding,  at  any 
one  time,  more  than  the  maximum  required  for  the  circulation  of  the 
Confederacy. 

The  estiniates  of  the  several  bureaux  of  this  Department  for  the 
period  ending  June  30th,  1863,  are  herewith  submitted.  They  will 
be  found  to  be  large,  but  not  larger,  it  is  believed,  than  the  exigencies 
of  the  j^ervice  require. 

An  interesting  report,  from  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs, 
is  herewith  submitted.  During  the  past  summer,  there  were  among 
the  tribes  in  the  Indian  country  some  agitations  and  disturbances, 
which  threatened  internal  conflicts,  and  a  possible  outbreak  upon  the 
contiguous  States.  They  have,  however,  been  happily  appeased,  and 
there  is  every  reason  now  to  expect  tranquility  among  themselves, 
and  their  amity  and  alliance  with  the  Confederate  States. 

From  the  preceding  imperfect  review  may  be  found  assurances  of 
the  increasing  power,  means  and  resources  of  the  Confederacy  for 
the  successful  prosecution  of  the  war.  We  -have  room,  too,  for  gratu- 
lation  at  the  firmness,  unity  and  self-devotion  of  our  people,  and  the 
skill  and  valor  of  our  generals  and  soldiers,  and  much  cause  of  devout 
gratitude  to  the  God  of  battles,  for  the  signal  triumphs  vouchsafed  over 
the  hosts  of  our  malignant  foes. 

Nor  can  I  conclude  Avithout  commemorating  another  glorious  victory 
that  has  just  given  added  cause  of  thankfulness  and  rejoicing.  Gen. 
Lee  and  his  noble  command  have,  at  Fredericksburg,  hurled  back 
in  dismay,  and  Avith  frightful  slaughter,  the  grand  army  of  invasion, 
engaged  for  the  fourth  time  in  the  vain  task  of  conquering  our  capital. 
They  had  sacked  and  desolated  the  town,  one  of  the  most  respectable 


'Koaaas  v  sawvr 


'pa}!)imqn6  ^unjijoadBo^ 


•Avo^OJ  oj  pa^iBcasip  puc  paao^^ieqs  oo» 
^raau  siq  oab8|  o^  sb  /raeuo  aq-j  uo  S8sso[  snoA9u2  qons  pa^oigni  'aouaj 
-ap  JO  8ui[  J9};aq  b  o^  saoaoj  s^SSbjjj  [B.iouajr)  jo  -jaatuaauaj  ^atjaodraa? 
aq!}  ui  Suqinsaa  a^H^^  'qoiq.w  %ut3:jsui  paooos  aqj  }o  ajSSnj^s  jCpoojq 
pa's  8Aisioapui  aqj  iCq  papao^B  st  oouBanssi;  {tijadoq  ssaj  iC[ooj'Bog 
M'BaiC  aqj  jo  sqdcuni.ij  aqj  paiiAvoJO  *omq{n  '\s\£  aqi  uo  'qotqAV  *pui;ra 
-raoo  aATjaq  siq  poB  22t!.ig  jp.iaua£)  jo  iCjopiA  papioap  aq;  Xq  puv  '2anq 
-83101^  uo  ao^B.vi  put!  puB[  jCq  j(ot;i)tj  pauiquioD  Sj-fcuoua  aq'i  jo  as[ndaa 
fUTq|u5  paA\aua.i  oq;  iCq  paoutJApu  aq  asiAva>|i[  \\itA.  %\nsoj.  ^ddt;t{  qong 

^  'lios  jno  uiojj 

aoispdxa  |thoj  a.ininj  Jiaq;  jo  iCanSnie  ^qSi.iq  v  \\v.  o;  2uip.io_g^  puis 
'^IKioi.ifldns  paSpaj.ttOujjOT!  jo  aomMnssB  aqj  Xm.iR  5ut;|[t;2  ano  oj  2ui 
-AtJaj  'sR5u>[.U!p  piu!  uuojs  piuiB  ifi.AvT;  j^u'B[s  ifoqj  sjaSuaA'B  aq:j  jo  ao-ej 
eq^  nuuj  popiiiioAV  put:  prop  Jioq^  qiuv  pojid  o.iaAV  sjaoa^s  8}i  joj 
'uounqi.n.^.i  ai^ip  jo  auaos  a^iMjdoaddi!  aqi  a{>^ui  scav  ai  pu'B  'saSBA-ea 
paoH.i^M)'  .M\;i|  [.[noAv  %r.\[\  Ji\\[\qvn([  puu  iC^iaed'ej  qiiM.  'a:j«'^g  aq:^  jo 

LI 


PtE  FO  PtT 


OF 


THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  IllAN  iFFilRS. 


Confederate  States  of  America,  1 

War  Department,  Office  of  Indian  Affairs,  > 

Richmond,  January  12,  1863.       ) 

Hon.  James  A.  Seddon, 

Secretary  of  War  : 

Sir  :  I  have  tlie  honor  most  respectfully  to  submit  for  your  consid- 
eration the  following  report  in  rogard  to  the  operations  of  this  office, 
and  the  condition  of  the  Indians  west  of  Arkansas. 

'On  the  3rd  day  of  April,  18G2,  at  the  first  session  of  the  first  Con- 
gress, commencing  on  the  18th  day  of  the  previous  February,  the 
sum  of  $389,725.42  was  appropriated  to  carry  into  effect  treaty  stipula- 
tions made  with  these  Indians,  and  to  meet  current  and  contingent 
expenses  of  the  Superintendency  of  Indian  Affairs  and  the  different 
agencies  to  November  3(Hh,  1862.  The  amount  expended  for  the 
purposes  intended  has  been  $213,597  73,  leaving  of  said  appropria- 
tion, unexpended  and  unrequired,  $176,127  69. 

The  appropriation  under  consideration  was  based  upon  estimates 
prepared  and  submitted  by  this  office  ;  and,  as  will  be  perceived  by 
the  figures  above  given,  largely  exceeded  the  amount  required.  This 
was  owing  to  the  fiiilure  of  Agents  to  supply  this  office,  as  is  provided 
for  by  law,  with  quarterly  estimates  of  the  sums  necessary  for  distri- 
bution within  the  limits  of  their  respective  districts,  and  to  meet  the 
expenses  of  their  several  agencies.  Reference  is  made  to  this  fact 
simply  to  account  for  the  large  overplus  in  the  appropriation,  and  is 
not  intended  as  a  complaint  against  those  officers — the  difficulty  of 
communication  between  the  seat  of  government  and  thij  Indian  coun- 
try, and  other  circumstances  incident  to  the  present  war,  being  suffi- 


20 

cient  grcunds  of  justification  for  non-compliance  -witli  this  branch  of 
their  Ifccial  duty.  The  same  causes,  too,  it  is  proper  to  state  in  this 
connection,  have,  no  doubt,  operated  to  prevent  them  from  promptly 
settling  their  accounts  and  keeping  this  office  fully  informed  of  the 
condition  and  sentiments  of  the  Indians  confided  to  their  care. 
•  In  the  month  of  August,  of  the  year  -which  has  just  closed,  infor- 
mation from  sources  entitled  to  credit,  -was  communicated  to  the  Con- 
federate government,  of  a  nature  calculated  to  excite  some  apprehen- 
sions, on  its  part,' with  regard  to  the  permanency  of  its  relations  with 
certain  of  tLe  Indian  nations  and  tribes.  In  view  of  this  fact  it  was 
deemed  advisable  for  me  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  Indian  country  ^ 
and  orders  to  that  effect  were  issued  from  the  War  Department  early 
in  the  ensuing  month.  I  was  instructed  to  carry  with  me,  for  dis- 
bursement, the  Indian  moneys  appropriated  by  Congress  April  3rd, 
1862,  to  which  allusion  has  hereinbefore  been  made;  to  acquaint  my- 
self, as  far  as.  practicable,  during  my  stay  in  the  Indian  country,  with 
the  wants  and  condition  of  its  people  ;  and  to  use  all  proper  and  le- 
gitimate means  to  satisfy  them  of  the  determination  of  this  govern- 
ment to  fulfill  all  of  its  promises  and  obligations  to  them  ;  to  pay  them, 
as  regularly  as  possible,  their  annuities,  &t5.  ;  and  to  protect  them  and 
their  homes  from  the  encroachments  of  all  enemies. 

In  obedience  to  these  orders,  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  Septem- 
ber, I  left  Richmond,  but  owing  to  misconnections  of  trains  upon  cer- 
tain railroads,  and  the  difficulty,  at  times,  of  procuring  suitable  trahs- 
portation,  I  did  not  enter  the  Indian  country  until  the  middle  of  Oc- 
tober. I  left  it,  upon  my  return  to  this  place,  about  the  1st  Decem- 
ber, having  remained  within  its  limits  about  a  month  and  a  half. 

During  this  time  I  had  repeated  interviews  with  Samuel  Garland, 
Principal  Chief  of  the  Choctaws  ;  Winchester  Colbert,  Governor  of 
the  Chickasaws :  Stand  Watie,  Principal  Chief  of  the  Cherokees  ; 
Motey  Kcnnard  and  Echo  Harjo,  Chiefs  of  the  Upper  and  Lower 
Creeks  ;  John  Jumper,  Chief  of  the  Seminoles,  and  other  men  of  au- 
thority in  these  nations. 

From  conversations  had  with  them,  and  from  information  derived- 
through  other  reliable  channels,  it  was  evident  that  a  spirit  of  dissat- 
isfaction had  manifested  itself,  prior  to  my  arrival,  among  portions  of 
their  people.  It  had  resulted  from  the  delay  of  this  government — 
unavoidable,  it  is  true,  but  of  the  facts  of  which  they  had  not  been 
fully  advised,  or,  did  not  comprehend, — in  complying  with  certain  of 
its  engagements  to  them.  This  dissatisfaction  did  not  amount  to  real 
distrust  of  the  good  faith  of  the  Confederate  States.  It  was,  however, 
a  beginning  in  that  direction  ;  and  had  it  been  permitted  to  continue, 
for  any  length  of  time,  the  most  disastrous  consequences  might  have 
ensued. 

The  task  of  removing  it  I  found  to  be  one  of  no  great  diffieulty. 
Indeed  the  mere  fact  of  the  government  having  sent  an  officer  from 
the  Capital  to  their  country,  charged  with  the  especial  duty  of  con- 
ferring with  them,  and  ascertaining  by  this  means  and  through  per- 
sonal observation,  their  wants  and  condition,  was  to  them  such  a  sig- 
nal and  conclusive  mark  of  its  favor  and  good  will,,  that  but  little  wa& 


21 

left  foi'  me  to  do  in  the  premises.  A  simple  and  brief  explanation  of 
the  past  action  of  the  govQrnment  in  their  behalf,  coupled  ^Yith  the 
assurance  of  its  unalterable  determination  to  watch  over  and  protect 
them,  was  all-sufficient  to  banish  every  trace  of  discontent  from  their 
minds.  The  substance  of  my  official  remarks  to  the  authorities  of  the 
different  nations  is  contained  in  an  address  issued  to  them  from  this 
office  a  few  days  ago,  and  the  manner  in  which  they  wore  received  is 
shown  by  extracts  from  a  scries  of  resolutions  of  the  Choctaw  Coun- 
cil and  a  written  communication  from  the  Greek  Chiefs,  after  my  in-* 
terviews  with  them — all  of  which  are  herewith  respectfully  sub- 
mitted. 

It  must  not  be  supposed,  in  the  reference  here  made,  to  the  Choc- 
taw, Chickasaw,  Cherokee,  Creek  and  Seminole  nations,  the  idea  is 
sought  to  be  conveyed  that  all  these  Indians  have  proven  loyal  to  their 
treaty  engagements  with  the  Confederate  Stg^tcs.  Such  is  by  no 
means  the  fact.     Indeed  it  is  true  only  with  regard  to  one  of  them. 

The  Chbctaws  alone,  of  all  the  Indian  nations,  have  remained  per- 
fectly united  in  their  loyalty  to  this  government.  It  was  said  to  me 
by  more  than  one  influential  and  reliable  Choctaw,  during  my  sojourn 
in  their  country,  that  not  only  had  no  member  of  th^t  nation  ever 
gone  over  to  the  enemy,  but  that  no  Indian  had  ever  done  so,  in 
whose  veins  coursed  Choctaw  blood. 

The  Chickasaws  have  been  less,  but  scarcely  less  fortunate  in  this 
regard,  than  their  brothers,  the  Choctaws.      About  forty  families,  in- 
a  body,  were  induced  to  desert  their  country  about  the'time  of  the- 
alliance  of  their  nation  with  the  Confederate  States.  .  With  this   ex- 
ception no  instances  of  disaffection  have  been  known  amopgst  them. 

Of  the  Seminoles  at  least  one-half  have  proved  disloyal,  and  havc^- 
deserted  their  country.     Their  Chief,  John  Jumper,  however,  has  ever 
exhibited  unshaken  fidelity  to  the  Confederate  cause,  and  those  of  his 
people  who  have  remained  with  him  are  composed  of  the  same  staunch, 
material  with  himself.  -  / 

The  Creeks  have  lost  about  a  thousand  or  fifteen  hundred  of  their 
people.  Ho-poth-li-Yo-ho-la's  defection  carried  off  almost  all  of 
these,  as  well  as  the  forty  faijiilies  of  Chickasaws  before  alluded  to. 
and  the  major  part  of  the  Seminoles. 

Of  the  Cherokees  not  less  than   one-half  followed  Ross,  when  he 
deserted  his  country.     Almost  the  whole  of  the  worth   and  talent  of 
the  nation,  however,  was  left  behind  him,  and  is  now  clustered  about 
Stand  AVatie,  its  present  gallant  and  patriotic  Principal  Chief. 

In  reference  to  the  condition  and  feelings  of  the  small  tribes  located' 
in  the  north-eastern  corner  of  the  Indian  country — the  Osages,  Qua- 
paws,  Senecas,  and  Senecas  and  Shawnees — but  little  is  known.  Their 
country  exposed,  as  it  is,   to   invasion  by  Kansas  desperadoes,  has 
been  completely  under  the  control  of  the  North,  almost  from  the  day 
of  their  having  entered  into  treaties  with  this  government.      OAthis 
account  one  hundred  and  fifty  families  of  the   Great  Osage  tr'iue  left 
their  homes  long  ago,  and  took  refuge  with  the  Creeks.     Three  of  the' 
leading  men   among  these   refugees — a  chief,   Black  Dog,    and   two- 
.other3-»-visitcd  me  at  Fort   Smith,  on   the  line  of  Arkansas  and  the 


22 

Indian  country.  Tliey  seemed  to  believe  that  a  majority  of  their 
brother  Osages,  which  is  the  only  one  of  these  ^bands  of  any  strength 
or  importance,  were  still  true  and  loyal,  although  fear  had  kept  them 
from  making  a  decided  manifestation  of  it.  At  any  rate,  according 
to  their  statement,  no  acts  of  hostility  had  ever  been  perpetrated  by 
them  against  the  Confederate  States.  The  other  bands,  they  thought, 
had  sided  with  the  enemy. 

The  Indians  settled  upon  the  district  lying  between  the  98th  and 
100th  parallels  of  west  longitude  and  the  Ked  and  Canadian  rivers, 
and  known  as  the  Reserve  Indians,  have  not,  of  late,  been  doing  very 
well  At  the  time  these  Indians  were  taken  under  the  guardianship 
of  the  Confederate  States,  they  numbered,  including  men,  women  and 
childven,  about  two  thousand  souls,  and  consisted  of  Comanches,  Wi- 
chitas,  Caddos*  Anadaghcos,  Toncawes,  Tahuacaros,  Huecos,  Kichais 
and  Aionais.  Provision  was  made  for  feeding  them  at  the  expense  of 
the  government,  and  placing  with  them  white  men  to  give  them  in- 
struction in  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts. 

Anterior  to  my  visit  to  the  Indian  country,  false  representations 
were  made  to  these  Indians,  by  mischievous  person?,  of  a  threatened 
inroad  into  the  Reserve  district  of  a  band  of  Texans,  with  hostile  in- 
tentions ;  and  all,  or  nearly  all  of  the  Wichitas,  Caddos,  Tahuacaros, 
Huecos,  Aionais  and  Kichais,  ran  away.  These  desertions,  reduced 
the  number  of  Indians  upon  the  Reserve,  at  least  one-half. 

Information  in  regard  to  this  untoward  event  did  not  reach  me 
until  my  arrival  at  Fort  Washita,  in  the  Chickasaw  counti'y,  where, 
at  the  same  time,  I  was  also  met  by  news  from  the  Reserve  jf  a  still 
more  unpleasant  character.  • 

Letters  from  the  quartermaster  of  the  Chickasaw  battalion,  sta- 
tioned at  Arbuckle,  had  just  been  received  at  Washita,  giving  an  ac- 
count of  a  serious  attack  upon  the  Reserve  by  a  band  of  marauding 
Indians.  At  the  former  post,  to  which  I  immediately  proceeded  in 
the  company  of  Gen.  Pike,  I  learned 'the  particulars  of  the  affair  from 
Dr.  Sturm,  the  issuing  commissary  for  the  Reserve,  and  Br.  Shirley, 
■a  merchant  at  the  Agency,  both  of  Avhoni  were  in  the  neighborhood  at 
the  time  of  its  occurrence. 

The  marauding  party  scarcely  exceeded  one  hundred  in  number,  and 
were  composed  of  Shawnees,  who  had  deserted  from  John  Jumper's 
battalion,  Delawares,  Kickapoos,  and  a  few  disloyal  Seminoles  and 
Cherokees.  They  made  their  appearance  at  the  Agency  between  nine 
and  ten  o'clock,  on  the  night  of  the  23d  October.  Whether  any  of 
the  Reserve  Indians  had  a  knowledge  of  their  cdming  is  not  certainly 
known.  They,  however,  took  no  part  in  the  outrage, 
•  Four  of  the  white  employees  at  the  Agency  wei^  surprised  and 
murdered.     Their  names  were  Bickel,  Harrison,  Outzcn  and  Turman. 

During  the  night,  the  murderers,  after  having  plundered  the  Agency 
•buil^g,  burned  it  to  the  ground.     No  other  house  was  destroyed. 

The  following  morning  they  attacked  the  Toncawes,  one  of  the 
'bands  of  Reserve  Indians,  killing  their  chief,  Placido,  a  good  man, 
twenty-three  of  their  warriors,  and  about  an  hundred  of  their  women 
■and  children.     The  Toncawes,  although  armed  with  only  bows  and 


23 

arrows,  while  their  assailants  had  weapons  of  the  latest  and  best  pat- 
tern, furnished  them  by  the  North,  inliicj^ed  upon  the  latter,  it  was 
said,  a  loss  of  twenty-seven  men  in  killed  and  woun  led. 

The  ground  of  their  assault  upon  the  Toncawes  is  to  be  found,  I 
suspect,  in  the  fact  of  this  band  having  sided  with  the  -yhites  against 
the  Indians  some  time  ago  in  Texas.  Feuds  among  this  singular  race 
of  people  never  die. 

The  remnant  of  the  ill-fated  Toncawe  tribe,  about  forty  men  and 
less  than  a  hundred  women  and  children,  made  their  way  to  Arbuckle 
a  few  days  after  the  fight.  They  were  in  a  most  miserable  and  desti- 
tute condition. 

•  Before  leaving  the  Chickasaw  country,  I  wrote  to  the  Governor  of 
that  nation,  asking  permission  to  place  them  temporarily  on  Rocky 
Creek,  about  eighteen  miles  east  of  Arbuckle,  where  there  was  excel- 
lent grazing  for  the  few  horses  owned  by  them,  plenty  of  wood  and 
good  water.  His  consent  was  rea^y  obtained.  A  copy  of  his  letter 
on  the  subject  is  hereto  appended. 

Dr.  Sturm,  the  commissary  before  referred  to,  was  instructed  by 
me  to  remain  Avith  the  Toncawes  during  the  winter,  and  attend  to  the 
issuing  of  provisions  to  them,  which  would  bo  supplied  under  the  con- 
tract for  feeding  the  Reserve  Indians. 

I  did  not  visit  the  Reserve.  It  was  unnecessary,  as  all  the  friendly 
Indians,  from  fear,  A\ere  known  to  have  abandoned  it  soon  after  the 
commission  of  the  outrages,  to  which  I  have  directed  attention,  and 
had  fled  to  the  Wichita  mountains.  A  message,  however,  inviting  the 
fugitives  back  to  their  homes,  and  couched  in  such  terms  as  were  cal- 
culated to  allay  their  apprehensions,  was  transmitted  to  them,  through 
Dr.  Shirley,  who  accompanied  a  scouting  party  sent  to  the  Reserve  by 
Gen.  Pike.  Of  the  result  of  this  undertaking  the  office  has  not  yec 
been  informed,  although  but  little  doubt  is  entertained  of  its  success, 
as  the  Comanche  chiefs,  whose  encampment  was  visited  by  certain 
white  men  immediately  subsequent  to  the  attack  upon  the  Agency,  and 
by  whom  they  were  assisted  to  escape,  expressed  the  determination  of 
returning,  when  all  excitement  had  subsided,  and  they  were  assured 
of  protection. 

Dr.  Shirley,  it  should  likewise  be  stated,  was  also  requested  by  me, 
while  he  remained  upon  the  Reserve,  to  take  charge  of  all  government 
property  there,  and  adopt  the  necessary  measures  to  preserve  it  from* 
waste.  .• 

Before  dismissing  the  subject  of  the  Reserve  agency,  a  few  remarks 
in  reference  to  the  wild  Indians  will  not  be  out  of  place. 

It  is  gratifying  to  be  able  to  state,  that  they  hive  recently  evinded  • 
no  great  disposition»to  wage  war  upon  the  Confederate  States.  In- 
deed, with  the  exception  ef  the  Cai-a-was,  they  have  never  done  so. 
This  band,  one  of  the  most  powerful  and  warlike  of  all  the  tribes 
leading  a  nomadic  life  upon  the  prairies  and  Staked  Plain,  refused  all 
propositions  of  peace  made  to  them  in  July,  1861,  by  the  commis- 
sioner sent  from  this  government  to  treat  with  the  Indians  west  of 
Arkansas,  and  endeavored  to  prevail  upon  the  Comanches  to  pursue  a 
similar  course.     They  were  induced  to  act  thus  by  Northern  emissa- 


24 

ries,  "who,  at  the  same  time  provided -them  with  rifles,  six-shooters,  and 
knives  to  be  used  in  murdering  and  scalprng  defenceless  women  and 
chihlren.  In  their  wicked  and  bloody  designs  they  failed  to  obtain 
the  co-operation  of  the  Comanches — several  of  the  bands  of  which 
made  a  treaty  with  the  commissioner.  Latterly,  however,  even  this 
fierce  tribe  has  manifested  some  ^lesire  to  cultivate  friendly  relations 
with  the  Confederate  States. 

On  the  4th  July  last,  some  of  the  Cai-a-wa  chiefs  accompanied  the 
,  Comanches  in  their  visit  to  the  Reserve  ngency  to  sign  the  treaty  which 
had  heretofore  been  made  with  a  part  of  them,  find  Avhile  there,  they 
also  entered  into  a  convention  with  the  Confederate  Government. 
That  they  really  wished  to  be  at  peace,  and  intended^to  abide  by  tli^ 
obligations  of  this  convention,  is  strongly  indicated  by  the  fact  of 
Tes-toth-cha,  their  principal  chief,  having  come  to  the  Reserve,  some 
time  before,  to  select  a  home  for  his  band,  and  pointing  out  Elk 
Creek,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  WiclAa  mountains,  as  the  place  desired 
by  him  for  the  purpose. 

The  recent  breaking  up  of  the  Reserve  has  interfered  with  all  these 
arrangements — arrangements  looking  to  tlie  establishment  of  friendly 
relations  with  all  the  wild  Indians,  their  permanent  settlement,  and 
cultivation  of  the  arts  of  peace;  but  it  is  hoped  that  this  may  be 
speedily  remedied  by  the  return  of  the  Reserve  Indians  to  their  homes, 
and  the  wise  management  henceforth  of  the  affairs  of  the  Agency. 

The  importance  of  this  Reserve  agency  to  the  Confederate  States  is 
scarcely  to  be  over  estimated.  The  labor  and  expense  necessary  to 
keep  it  up,  at  least  for  some  years,  will  be  great ;  but  it  may  well  be 
urged,  that  peace  on  our  extensive  western  frontier,  which  would,  no 
doubt,  result  from  its  maintenance  on  a  sound  and  healthful  basis  ; 
the  preservation  of  the  lives  and  property  of  thousands  of  our  citizens, 
and  withal  the  gradual  civilization  of  the  roving  Pagans  of  the  prai- 
ries, oflfer  the  most  ample  remuneration  for  all  the  labor  and  all  the 
expense  to  which  the  government  may  be  subjected,  should  each  be 
doubly  as  heavy,  as  there  is  any  likelihood  of  its  being. 

Permit  me  to  remark  in  this  connection  that  a  white  and  Indian  force 
adequate  to  the  protection  of  the  Reserve  should  be  constantly  kept 
there ;  and  that  the  necessary  steps  should,  at  once,  be  taken  to  re- 
build the  Agent's  house,  which  was  destroyed  as  hereinbefore  stated. 

In  portions  of  the  Indian  country  excessive  drought  has  prevailed 
during  the  last -two  seasons.  The  crops  were  cut  short,  and  some  of 
the  friendly  Indiai.s  are,  therefore,  suffering.  Corn,  however,  has 
been,  and  is  still  being  supplied,  as  far  as  practicable,  to  the  most 
-needy  among  them,  by  the  generals  in  command.  These  facts  are  men- 
tioned that  Congress  may  adopt  such  action  on  the  subject,  as,  in  its 
judgment,  shall  seem  best. 

I  had  intended  to  suggest,  for  your  consideration,  certain  modifica- 
tions of  the  law  regulating  trade  and  intercourse  with  the  Indians, 
but  have,  upon  reflection,  deemed  it  inexpedient  to  do  so.  It  contains 
features  of  somewhat  doubtful  propriety,  yet  having  only  recently 
been  enacted,  and  therefore  but  imperfectly  tested,  I  do  not  now  feel 
altogether  authorized  to  dispute  its  efficiency. 


25 


^0  effort  of  this  office,  in  its  operations  heretofore,  has  been  spared 
to  guard  the  interests  of  the  Confederate  States,  as  well  as^hose  of 
the  Indians,  and  it  is  sufficient  to  state,  in  conclusion,  thaFfor  tlie 
future  the  same  ends  shall  be  had  constantly  in  view. 


I  have  the  honor  to  be. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant. 


S-  S.  SCOTT, 

Com.  Sfc. 


1^6 


LIST  oj  Documents  accompanying  the,  foregoing  Report. 

No.  1.  Address  ^.o  the  Choctaws,  Chickasaws,  Clierokees,  Creeks, 
Seminoles,  and  all  other  Indian  nations  and  tribes  friendly  to  the  Con- 
federate States,  dated  Dec.  26,  1862. 

No.  2.  Resolutions  of  the  General  Council  of  the  Choctaw  nation, 
approved  Oct.  22d,  1862. 

No.  3.  Extract  from  a  talk  of  the  Creek  chiefs,  dated  November 
27thi  1862. 

1^0.  4.  Letter  to  Gov.  "Winchester  Colbert,  of  the  Chickasaw  na- 
tion, dated  Nov.  10th,  1862. 

No.  5.  Reply  of  Gov.  Colbert  to  the  foregoing,  dated  'November 
10th,  1862. 

No.  6.  Letter  of  Brig.  Gen.  Albert  Pike,  dated  July  20th,  1862. 


I 


27 


ADDRESS 


Confederate   States  of  America,      ^ 

War  Department,  Bureau  of  Indian  Affairs,  v 
Richmond,  December  26,  1862.  ; 

To  the  Choclaws,  Chickasaws,  Cherokees,  Creeks,  Seminoks,  and  all 

other  Indian  Nations  and  Tribes  friendly  to  the  Confederate  States: 
My  Friends, — I  have  just  returned  to  Richmond,  the  capital  of 
the  Confederate  States,  from  your  beautiful  country.  To  visit  you,  I 
have  traveled  over  six  thousand  miles  in  the  last  four  months.  The 
Pr(  sident  of  the  Confederate  States,  one  who  loves  you  well,  com- 
manded me  to  make  this  journey — to  see  you  a*- your  homes — to  con- 
verse with  you  face  to  face — in  order  that  the  Government  might  be 
placed  in  possession  of  certain  and  reliable  infjprmation  in  regard  to 
your  wants  and  necessities,  and  the  condition  of  your  country. 

During  my  stay  in  the  Indian  Territory,  where  I  Avas  treated  by 
you  with  every  kindness-and  courtesy,  I  had  repeated  talks  with  many 
of  you.  The  facts  obtained  from  you,  in  those  interviews,  have  been 
treasured  up  in  my  memory,  and  shall  be  fully  communicated  to  the 
Government.  In  the  mean  time,  however,  I  desire  to  say  a  few  addi- 
tional words  to  you  ;  and  I  trust  you  will  give  to  them  due  con- 
Bideration. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1861,  Gen.  Albert  Pike,  of  Arkansas, 
was  sent,  as  a  Commissioner  to  your  country,  to  explain  to  you  the 
facts  in  relation  to  the  organization  of  the  Confederate  Government, 
and  to  request  y  )u  to  extend  to  it  the  hand  of  peace  and  friendship. 
In  pursuance  of  the  authority  with  which  he  was  invested,  before  the 
^close  of  the  year,  he  concluded  treaties  with  all  of  you.  These  trea- 
ties have  since  been  properly  ratified  ;  and  you  thereby  became  the 
allies  of  the  Confederate  States. 

The  Government  in  making  these  treaties  with  you,  consulted  your 
welfare  and  happiness,  as  well  as  its  own.  By  reference  to  them,  it 
will  be  perceived  that  every  provision  is  marked  by  justice  and  liber- 
ality. Many  rights  and  privileges  are  thereby  extended  to  you,  which 
were  persistently  denied  you  under  the  old  Government.  In  short, 
by  the  terms  of  these  treaties,  you  are  made  to  occupy  a  high  and  ex- 
alted position — one  adapted  to  your  civilization  and  advancement,  and 
suited  to  your  pride  and  independence  of  character. 

You  ar3  allowed  delegates  in  Congress,  whose  exclusive  duty  con- 
sists in  watching  over  and  guarding  your  interests. 

The  establishment  of  courts  in  your  midst  is  provided  for,  so  tkat 


28        . 

you  are  not  compelled  to  go  for  justice  to  the  tribunals  of  neighbor- 
ing States,  but  can  have  it  administered  to  you  at  home. 

The  payment  of  all  moneys,  -whether  due  to  you  from  the  old  Gov- 
ernment, or  any  of  the  States  which  composed  it,  is  secured  to  you. 

The  peaceful  and  uninterrupted  possession  and  enjoyment  of  your 
country  forever,  is  guaranteed  to  you  ;  and  the  power  of  the  Confede- 
rate Government  ii  pledged  to  assist  you  in  defending  it,  at  all  times, 
and  against  all  enemies. 

From  the  character  cf  these  treaties,  it  seems,  that  the  bond  of 
friendship  thus  formed  between  the  Confederate  States  and  yourselves 
ought  totcndure  forever;  and  such  it  is  confidently  believed  will  be 
the  fact;  for  in  addition  to  the  reasons  already  enumerated,  there  yet 
remain  other  and  most  potent  ones,  why  it  should  be  so. 

The  people  of  the  Confederate  States  are  emphatically  your  friends^ 
and  brothers.  You  are,  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  Southern.  The 
South  was  the  home  of  your  fathers.  It  was  within  the  shadow  of 
her  deep  forests  and  by  the  side  of  her  sparkling  streams,  that  they 
sported  in  their  infancy,  and  hunted  the  deer  and  bear  in  their  man- 
hood ;  and  it  is  in  the  bosom  of  her  green  valleys  that  their  bones  now 
lie  buried.  The  territory,  which  you  now  occupy,  and  which  has  been 
set  apart  for  you  and  your  children  forever,  is  Southern  territory. 
Your  language  is  Southern.  Your  habits,  your  manners  and  cus- 
toms are  Southern ;  ^nd  your  interests  are  all  Southern. 

I  have  said  your  interests  are  all  Southern.  Herein  the  war,  which 
is  being  waged  upon  the  Confederate  by  the.  Northern  States,  directly 
affects  you — affects  you  to  the  same  extent  that  it  does  them.  It  is 
for  your  degradation  and  abasement — for  the  destrjiction  of  your  pro- 
perty— for  the  overthrow  of  your  institutions — as  well  as  theirs. 
Slavery  with  you  is  as  obnoxious  to  the  fanaticism  of  the  North  as  it 
is  in  the  Confederate  States;  and  could  that  Government  subjugate 
them  and  deprive  them  of  their  slaves,  it  would  not  be  long  in  taking 
yours  from  you  also.  But  this  is  not  all.  After  having  dispossessed 
you  of  your  slaves,  it  would  fasten  upon  your  rich  and  fertile  lands, 
and  distribute  them  among  its  surplus  and  poverty-stricken  popula- 
tion, who  have  been  looking  toward  them  with  longing  hedirts  for 
years. 

A  word  now  in  regard  to  the  fortunes  of  the  war.  Within  the  last 
two  years  many  battles  have  been  fought.  Some  of  these  were  on  a 
scale  of  the  gi'eatest  magnitude.  In  all  of  them,  away  from  water 
courses,  the  Confederate  troops,  although  greatly  outnumbered,  have 
uniformly  proven  victorious.  Only  a  few  days  ago,  the  grand  army 
of  the  North  was  defeated,  with  a  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  of  about 
twenty  thousand  men,  at  Fredericksburg,  in  this  State,  by  the  Con- 
federate forces  under  Gen.  Lee.  There  is  but  little  doubt  that  the  re- 
sults oi:'  future  battles  will  be  similar  in-  character  to  those  of  the 
past.  The  Southern  Indian  is  the  fightirg  Indian;  the  S  )uthern 
white  man  is  the  fighting  white  man  ;  and  they  can  never  be  subdued 
by  Northern  arms.  As  well  might  a  single  individual  attempt  to  stay 
the  sweep  of  a  prairie  fire. 

Some  delays  have  now  and  then  occurred  in  the  fulfillment  of  car- 


29 

tain  of  the  promises  made  to  you  by  the  Confederate  Government. 
This  could  not  be  pre^^ented.  They  were  the  result  exclusively  of 
this  great  and  terrible  war,  Recgnect  this  fact,  should  similar  delays 
hereafter  ensue.  The  '''onfederate  Government  will  comply  strictly  with 
all  of  its  engagenunts  to  you.  Bear  this  always  in  mind,  and  never 
suffer  yourselves  to  doubt  it. 

In  conclusion,  I  will  remark,  that  by  a  proper  use  of  the  facilities 
for  advancement,  which  the  Government  of  the  Confederate  States 
has  placed  within  your  reach,  and  under  its  fostering  care  and  protec- 
tion, inhabiting,  as  you  do,  a  country  healthful,  finely  watered,  and 
possessed  of  every  advantage  of  soil  and  climate,  it  jivill  be  easy  for 
you,  in  a  few  years,  to  become  powerful  and  prosperous  nations.  That 
you  may  energetically  direct  your  efforts  to  the  accomplishment  of 
this  great  end,  and  that  such  efforts  in  connection  with  those  of  the 
Government  in  your  behalf  may  be  crowned  with  success,  is  the  earn- 
est wish  and  full  expectation  of  the  President  and  people  of  the  Con- 
federate States. 

Your  friend, 

S.  S.    SCOTT, 

Com.  ^'c. 


30 

[  Ko.  II.] 

1st.  Resolved  by  ike  General  Council  of  ike  Choctaw  Nation  assembled, 
That  the  Choctaw  nation  has  the  utmost  confidence  in  the  good  faith 
and  firm  friendship  of  the  Government  of  the  Confederate  States. 

2d.  Resolved,  furt/icr,  That  the  Choctaw  nation  duly  appreciates, 
and  hereby  acknowledges  the  many  acts  of  kindness  and  care  per- 
formed by  that*  government  toward  the  Choctaw  people;  and  espe- 
cially is  the  nation  gratified  at  the  act  (0  said  government  in  sending 
the  chief  oflScer  of  the  Indian  Department,  JS.  S.  Scott,  Esq.,  as  a 
special  agent  to  enquire  into  the  condition  of  the  Choctaw  country, 
and  the  wants  of  its  people. 

*  *  '  *  * 

Proposed  by  George  Folsom, 

Passed  the  House  of  Representatives  Oct.  22,  1862. 


Passed  the  ^enate  Oct.  22,  1862. 


B.  L.  LEFLORE, 

Speaker  of  House. 

Z.  HARRISON, 

Rresident  of  Senate. 


Approved  Oct.  22,  1862.  SAM'L  GARLAND, 

P.  a  C.  N. 

James  Riley, 

National  Secretary,  Choctaw  Nation. 


t 
SI 


[No.    III.] 


Fort  Smith,  Arkansas, 
November  27,  1862. 


!• 


To  Col.  S.  S.  Scott,* 

Commissioner  of  Indian  J  [fairs : 

Sir  : 

*  *  '        *  * 

The  interview  -we  had  willi  jou  to-day  has  been  highly  satisfactory, 
and  we  are  gratified  to  know  that  the  Confederate  Government  feels 
so  deep  an  interest  in  us.  We  desire  to  be  of  it  and  to  aid  it;  and 
we  would  here  take  the  liberty  to  urge  the  necessity  of  it  giving  to 
our  people  that  protection  promised,  and  so  very  much  needed,  against 
the  enemy,  who  now  press  us  sorely  and  severely,  and  to  whom  we 
are  so  much  exposed. 

With  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  our  cause,  and  asking  that  the 
above  receive  yeur  earliest  attention,  we  have  the  honor  to  be. 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servants, 

MOTEY  KANNARD, 
ECHO  HARJO, 

Frincipal  Chiefs  Creek  Nation, 
Att-est : 

Geo.  W.  Walker,  Clerk. 


32 


[No.  lY.] 

Fort  Arbuckle,  ) 
November  lOth,  1862.      \ 

To  Gov.    WlXCHESTER  CoLBERT, 

Chickasaw  Nation  : 

Sir  :  The  Toncavres,  one  of  the  fi-iendlj  triBes  settled  on  the  Re- 
serve, were  driven  from  their  homes,  and  several  of  their  number 
killed,  bv  a  band  of  marauding  Indians,  vrho  recently  attacked  the 
Wichita  Agency.  They  had  incurred  the  hatred  of  .these  Indians, 
because  of  their  friendship  for  the  Confederate  government  and  the 
Chickasaw  nation. 

It  is  deemed  impolitic  to  send  the  remnant  of  the  tribe,   now  en- 
camped near  this  post,  back  to  the  Reserve  this  winter.     I,  therefore, 
respectfully  ask  the   privilege  of  placing  fhem  temporarily  on  Rocky 
or   Clear  Creek,  near  the  road  leading  from  Fort  Washita  to  Arbuc 
kle,  and  about  eighteen  miles  from  the  latter. 

« 

I  am,  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

S.  S.  SCOTT, 

Com.,  ^'c. 


33 


[No.  v.] 

Fort  Areuckle,  > 
November  10,  18C2.      ] 
To  Hon.  S.  S.  Scott, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  : 

Sir  :  Your  communication  of  this  morning  asking  the  privilege  of 
removing  the  Toncawes  from  their  camp  near  this  post,  (they  having 
come  there  because  of  an  attack  upon  them  at  the  Wichita  Agency,) 
has  been  duly  considered  by  me  ia  conjunction  -with  Colonel  Pickens, 
Captain  Gamble  and  Captain  Sheco. 

You  are  therefore  fully  authorized  to  make  this  temporary  removal 
of  these  Indians,  provided  they  are  subject  to  the  laws  of  the  Chick- 
asaw nation,  and  will  furnish  guides  to  the   Home  Guards  and  the 
•  Chickasaw  Battalion,  when  called  upon  to  do  so. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant,   ' 

W.  COLBERT, 

Governcr. 


k   OouLJ 
34 


[No.  VI.] 

Headquarters,  Fort  McCulloch,  ) 
July  20,  1862.    •  \ 
S.  S.  Scott,  Esq., 

Acting  Comrrir  Indian  Affairs  : 

Sir:  I  am  glad  to  have  to  report*  that  since  the  fourth  of  this 
month  about  four  hundred  of  the  wild  Comanches,  accompanied  by  the 
Caiawa  chiefs,  have  been  in  at  the  Wichita  Agency ;  and  that  the 
former  have  renewed  the  treaty  made  by*part  of  them,  and  the  latter 
have  entered  into  the  convention  sent  up  by  me  for  their  considera- 
tion. They  waited  some 'days  in  the  hope  of  seeing  me,  but  I  could 
not  go,  being  under  orders  to  take  a  different  direction. 

My  absence  was  so  explained  that  it  did  no  harm  ;  and  the  agent 
informs  me  that  these  tribes  are  now  perfectly  peaceable,  contented 
and  satisfied.  Only  one  band  of  the  Gomanches  remains  to  be  treated 
with.  They  reside  on  the  Staked  Plain,  and  it  is  promised  they  will 
be  in  in  September. 


I  am,  very  respectfully  yours, 

ALBERT  PIKE, 

Brigadier  General,  8fc, 


pH8.5 


